A PLA​CE OF HOPE AND HEALING

HELPING SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE HEAL

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SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS

WHAT IS SEXUAL ABUSE?

Sexual abuse is any sexual activity (verbal, visual or physical) engaged in without consent, which may be emotionally or physically harmful and which exploits a person in order to meet another person's sexual or emotional needs.

A person who commits sexual abuse can be male or female. Sexual abuse does not discriminate it crosses all:

educational status

socioeconomic levels

religion

race

gender

age

There are no physical characteristics that will identify an individual as a sex offender. Sex offenders come from all walks of life and look like ordinary people. Sex offenders can come from within the family system.

GLOSSARY OF TERMS

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SEXUAL ABUSE: A SILENT EPIDEMIC

Sexual abuse is not an easy subject to talk about but we cannot remain quiet any longer and just turn a deaf ear to this silent and horrendous CRIME! Sadly, the heartbreaking reality is that the most vulnerable in society are being preyed upon and many lives have been and are being destroyed at an alarming rate.

Sexual abuse creates illegitimate guilt and shame in a person that will prevent them from seeking the help they need and deserve in order to heal from the traumatic event(s). There are many consequences due to sexual abuse but the most common are:

misplaced guilt and shame (responsibility belongs to the abuser not the person who was victimized)

anger

confusion

low self-esteem

fear and anxiety

depression

controlling behaviors

loneliness

numb (suppression of feelings)

distrust of people

WHAT TO DO IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW HAS BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED

Go to a safe place away from the offender

Preserve all evidence of the assault

Don't bathe, wash your hands, brush your teeth, smoke, eat or drink

Preserve the crime area: do not clean up or straighten anything from your surroundings

Call 911

Seek medical assistance for post sexual assault assistance at the following locations in Dallas County: .